Chart: Compare and find the best gasoline rewards card for you

By Erin Peterson

For most people, the only difference between the gas they buy at the station down the street and the one that's all the way across town is the price. Because gas is a commodity, retailers work hard to inspire long-term loyalty through perks and rewards.

Gas rewards cards are one way that companies seek to win you over -- but not all cards are created equal. Some don't offer a single reward, while others pile on hefty discounts, rebates, and special deals. Store cards are often the easiest credit cards to get, while co-branded cards (the result of partnerships between retailers and networks such as Visa and MasterCard) often offer better interest rates and rewards than their store card counterparts. Some of the cards hit you with a generous flurry of rewards at first, then choke the generosity down to a trickle.

Which is best for you? That will depend on a combination of factors, including where you drive, whether you tend to carry a balance and the size and nature of the rewards themselves. To find a great card, fill up on the information below -- and then fill up your tank.

2 percent cash back at gas stations and department stores; 3 percent cash back at supermarkets; 1 percent cash back on all other eligible purchases; $100 cash back after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months; 0 percent intro APR for 12 months

3 percent back at gas stations and department stores; 6 percent back at supermarkets; 1 percent back on all other eligible purchases; $150 cash back after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 0 percent APR for 12 months

BP Card

10,000 BP locations and more than 390,000 PLUS network ATMs

None

19.24%

2 percent rebate on all Amoco Ultimate premium-grade fuel purchases

BP Card with Pump Rewards

10,000 BP locations

None

19.24%

5-cent-per-gallon rebate for every $100 in BP purchases, good for a one-time fill up of up to 20 gallons

5 percent rebate on up to $500 in monthly purchases at participating BP locations; 2 percent rebate on eligible travel and dining; 1 percent rebate everywhere else; double rewards for the first 60 days

5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in bonus categories each quarter (gas stations are included in 2 quarters in 2012); up to 10 percent cash back at selected online merchants; 1 percent cash back on everything else; $100 cash back after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months; 0 percent APR for the first six billing cycles

Chevron and Texaco Credit Card

All Chevron and Texaco stations, and any ATM with a Cirrus symbol

None

26.99%

Fuel credits of 10 cents per gallon for 60 days; up to $300 in credits

Chevron and Texaco Premium Card

All Chevron and Texaco stations, and any ATM with a Cirrus symbol

$25

26.99%

Fuel credits of 10 cents per gallon for 60 days; up to $300 in credits; plus discounts and rebates on hotels, car rentals and airline tickets booked through its travel reservation service

5 points for every $1 spent at gas stations, supermarkets and drugstores for the first 12 months; 1 point for everything else; 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months; annual membership bonuses

5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in bonus categories each quarter (gas stations are included in 2 quarters in 2012); up to 1 percent cash back on other purchases; up to 20 percent cash back at selected online merchants; 0 percent APR for the first 15 months

2 percent cash back on the first $250 of gas station or restaurant purchases each month; up to 20 percent cash back on selected online retailers, and up to 1 percent cash back on all other purchases; 0 percent introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months

2 percent cash back on the first $250 of gas station or restaurant purchases each month; up to 20 percent cash back on selected online retailers, and up to 1 percent cash back on all other purchases; 0 percent introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months

10 percent cash back at selected hotels, 5 percent cash back on airline travel, cruises, and car rentals (reservations must be made through the card member reservation center), and dining and entertainment discounts

10 percent rebate at Hess for the first 60 days after the account is opened on eligible gas, merchandise, and food purchases, up to $400; after that, 3 percent rebate on Hess gas, merchandise, and food on up to $400 each billing cycle; 1 percent rebate on all other purchases except for non-Hess gas purchases, which earn a 0.25 percent rebate

Holiday Smart Savings Credit Card

400 Holiday stations nationwide

None

12% to 20.4%

4-cent rebate on gasoline purchases, plus 5 percent savings on food and merchandise purchases in the store; double discounts for the first three billing cycles

PenFed Platinum Rewards Card

Anywhere Visa is accepted

None

9.99%

5 points per dollar spent on gas purchases, 3 points per dollar spent on groceries, 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases; 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first three months; 1.99 percent APR for the first 24 months

Phillips 66 Personal Card

All Phillips, Conoco and 76 stations

None

24.99%

Save 5 cents per gallon on up to 110 gallons per month, with minimum purchase of 45 gallons

0% introductory APR for 6 months. Every time you make a purchase, you can earn cash back: 3% for the first $3,000 in annual gasoline purchases (1% thereafter); 2% for restaurants; 2% for travel; 1% everywhere else, including Costco

Valero

All Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Beacon and Shamrock stations nationwide

None

23%

30 cent-per-gallon rebate for up to 100 gallons each month for the first three billing cycles

Published: March 6, 2012

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